Michigan State Basketball: Is 4-star SF James Graham a realistic option?

Michigan State basketball has been making a point to include four-star small forward James Graham in its 2021 plans. Is he a realistic option?

When you’re hot, you’re hot. Just ask Tom Izzo.

Landing the No. 1 player in the 2022 class and a guy dubbed the best prospect since LeBron James in Emoni Bates a few weeks ago followed by five-star prospect and No. 1 shooting guard in the 2021 class Max Christie have boosted the Spartans’ future classes.

Izzo is red-hot on the recruiting trail and there’s a belief that he’ll soon be adding another commitment from five-star 2022 center Enoch Boakye who could end up reclassifying with Bates. He’s announcing his decision on July 28.

While it looks like Jaden Akins may be the final piece to the puzzle in an elite 2021 class, James Graham is still on the board.

On July 20, he released his top nine schools.

Michigan State made the cut with Auburn, Florida State, Georgetown, Marquette, Maryland, Memphis, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt.

Before releasing his top nine schools, he had a virtual visit with the Michigan State staff and admitted that Izzo isn’t pressuring him to commit.

So is he a realistic option for the Spartans’ 2021 class? It seems that way, especially if Boakye and Bates don’t end up reclassifying. If those two don’t reclassify, the Spartans could have an open spot, especially if any combination of Joey Hauser, Rocket Watts and Aaron Henry end up leaving after the 2020-21 season.

That means that Michigan State will have enough scholarships for another addition, if Bates and Boakye remain in 2022, and Graham just may be that go-to guy.

Many believe he’d be a five-star if there was basketball this spring and it’s hard to argue that when you watch his highlights.

Graham is ranked the No. 56 player in the 2021 class and the ninth-best small forward, according to 247Sports.